The Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has traveled to neighboring Iraq for negotiations on expansion of banking relations between Tehran and Baghdad.

Iran Press/Middle East: Abdolnasser Hemmati, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad on Tuesday afternoon, to hold talks with Iraqi officials on future banking cooperation as well as discussing repayment and rescheduling of Iraq’s electricity and gas bills to Iran.

Upon his arrival in Baghdad airport, Hemmati was greeted by his Iraqi counterpart Ali Al Alagh, Iran Press reported.

The CBI governor posted a message on his Instagram account after a brief meeting with his Iraqi counterpart, saying “I had initial talks with Dr. Alagh, who had come to the airport to welcome the Iranian delegation. Given the positive view of him that I have, I hope we will have good negotiations to advance the two countries’ interests.”

Currently, Iran and Iraq have extensive political and trade ties with each other. Iraq depends on Iran's natural gas imports for electricity generation.

Iran is currently Iraq's top trading partner, with volume of Tehran-Baghdad trade reaching about $12 billion, according to Iraqi officials.  

The two countries are currently working on the supply of Iranian natural gas to the Sadr neighborhood of Baghdad, and al-Mansuriya power plants through a 270-kilometer pipeline and to Basra near the Iranian border via a separate pipeline.   101/ 211 /202

 

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